2 The Crack in Reality

As I opened my eyes, or at least I think I did, I was no longer in the dark void. Instead, I found myself surrounded by a bright light, so blinding that it made me squint, or whatever equivalent of squinting I could manage without a physical body.

"Ugh, where the hell am I now?" I muttered to myself, realizing that my surroundings had drastically changed. It wasn't the fanfic-like reincarnation I was expecting; instead, I seemed to be caught in some sort of cosmic whirlpool.

The light began to fade, revealing a city skyline. I recognized the familiar architecture of tall buildings and flashing lights. "Wait a minute... is that A City?" I questioned, my nonexistent eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Suddenly, it hit me like a cosmic truck. Memories rushed back, memories that weren't mine but belonged to someone named Matt Jones. I had died in the particle accelerator explosion, and now I seemed to have taken over his life. Or rather, his body.

I tried to move, or at least I willed myself to move, and to my surprise, it worked. I felt a sense of control over limbs that weren't mine, yet now felt oddly familiar. I glanced at my hands, or rather Matt's hands, and flexed his fingers. "This is weird," I muttered, attempting to come to terms with the new reality.

As I surveyed my surroundings, I noticed I was in a dimly lit room. The air was charged with an unusual energy, and I could hear distant sounds of sirens echoing through the city. "Well, Matt, looks like you've got yourself into a whole new adventure," I chuckled, or at least mentally chuckled.

I stumbled through the room, still getting used to this borrowed body. The mirror on the dresser caught my attention, and I couldn't resist taking a look. Matt Jones stared back at me, and for a moment, I questioned whether I was looking at him or me.

"Weird I look so similar to my past self maby just more slim and I like it."

Before anything else I decided to check my lower region and let's just say my future partner should be very happy.

After that I went to the next logical step, or at least what seemed logical to me, was to check out the city. I navigated through the apartment, grabbing a jacket that was conveniently hanging on a chair. As I stepped outside, the cool breeze hit my face, and I marveled at the bustling life of Central City.

"Alright, Matt, let's see what kind of chaos we can get into," I declared with a grin, embracing the unexpected opportunity this bizarre twist of fate had presented.

But just before I was about to leave I heard a ferocious roar and I looked around before realizing what it was. My stomach.

"Well lets make something before I go for that walk."

Walking to the kitchen I proceed to look through the various cupboards and freezer and fridge and I decide to take out some frozen crummed chicken, 2 minute noodles and some frozen stir fry.

"Ima make some home made ramen."

After putting the chicken on the stove as well as the veg I put water into a pot and boil it. Then I proceed to put 2 noodle packets in along with their seasoning and some souyer sauce. After draining most of the water off the noodles and mixing in the veg and then cutting up the chicken I had myself some tasty ramen.

"God damn thats good. Hmm."

[Ding! Lv1 cooking acquired]

[Ding! Lv1 cooking -> Lv2]

"Holy sh*t!"

I won't ever admit that I jumped so high I swear I could see the above the clouds.

"So it worked! I was wondering about this but it would seem like i was right. My wishes were granted kinda? But in exchange it took pretty much all of that void energy i had stored in my soul. But with this i can still feel my soul just not as much as before. Status!"

[Name: Matthew Jones

Age: 19

Race: Human

Soul Tier: 2

Skills: Soul Manipulation Lv1, Cooking Lv2, Dark Matter Manipulaton Lv0, Breathing Lv1, Void Manipulation Lv1, Cutting Lv1, Void Essence Resonance Lv0]

"Well damn, thats pretty Op, but I think I get it now. So basically my soul protection I wished for is now basically a technique to cultivate my soul to make it go into higher tiers. But I would also need to find a way to strengthen my body to handle it when it reaches a certain tier. And this system of sorts is more of me getting knowledge from the void I have left in my soul and giving me information apron leveling up the skills. So is it then not a system and basically just a display, pretty damn dope. Anyway I should get to heading out now and exploring this city where I only saw in a TV show."

After packing everything up I proceeded to leave this apartment and lock up and go for a small walk.

Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a journey filled with metahumans, speedsters, and a world far more complex than any fanfiction could have prepared me for. As I strolled through the city streets, I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises awaited me in this new life as Matt Jones in the Flash universe.